Sustainable Seafood

How to Enjoy the Seafood We Love, While Protecting Our Oceans

You’re here because you’ve read the headlines—many of our ocean’s fisheries are damaged, and without critical changes, the diversity and abundance of our seafood may disappear forever. But what exactly is sustainable seafood?

In a nutshell, it’s seafood that is caught or farmed in an environmentally responsible way. Sustainable seafood also accounts for the economic health of local fishing communities which have long relied on the abundance of the oceans for their livelihood. The oceans are the world’s largest source of protein, and over 2.6 billion people depend on seafood as their primary source of protein. So it’s extremely important that we all work towards preserving our fisheries, and don’t overtax this precious resource. That means adhering to catch quotas, accurate reporting, using environmentally sensitive harvest methods, protecting marine habitats, and more. Unfortunately, regulations vary wildly from country to country, and not everyone is prioritizing our collective long-term interests.

Why Eat American Seafood?

The United States is widely recognized as a world leader in sustainable fisheries management. Through science-based management plans regulated by NOAA, catch systems and aquaculture production which preserve fisheries for the future are created and managed. This prevents overfishing, rebuilds depleted stocks, and minimizes bycatch. In addition, choosing American seafood supports our regional economies, and reduces the carbon footprint of transporting your fish.

Despite having more ocean under our control than any other country, over 85% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. Help turn that tide by choosing our domestic catch. Through our Neighborhood Fish Drop program, you can support American fishermen and women and know that your seafood is being actively managed for future generations.

What About Aquaculture?

If you’re familiar with factory farms, you may assume that farmed seafood is also bad for the environment. Not so! There are many types of aquaculture systems, and a properly designed operation will not impact wild ecosystems or rely on wild-caught fish as feed. When done well, farmed seafood is flavorful and healthy, on top of being resource efficient compared to land proteins. Farmed shellfish, for instance, is one of the most sustainable eating choices you can make, since bivalves require no feed, sequester carbon, and filter our watersheds. Furthermore, aquaculture creates jobs, and provides a valuable boost to local communities.

Here at The Fish Drop, in addition to our wild, U.S.-caught offerings, we have a select number of farmed seafood items, from farmers who adhere to best-in-class aquaculture standards. These products have been rigorously tested by our chefs for premium flavor and texture, and will never contain antibiotics or other additives.